The number of confirmed deaths in the fire that devastated a residential complex in Hong Kong last week has risen to 151 and the toll could still rise, police revealed this Monday.
“The death toll rose to 151 at 4 p.m. [8h em Portugal Continental]. We cannot exclude the possibility that the number of fatalities will increase further,” a police representative, Tsang Shuk-yin, told the press.
Hong Kong today celebrates the last of three days of mourning for the fire that consumed the Wang Fuk Court residential complex, in Tai Po, in the north of the city.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong police reported today that they have so far detained a total of 13 people in the fire investigation.
Chan Tung, director of Hong Kong’s criminal and security police, told the press that “an in-depth investigation was immediately opened for manslaughter”, which “led to the arrest of 13 people, 12 men and one woman”.
The fire broke out around 3pm on Wednesday (7am in mainland Portugal) in the Wang Cheong House block and affected seven of the eight buildings. Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire originated in the scaffolding protection network on the lower floors and spread quickly vertically.
Highly flammable expanded polystyrene sheets, used to seal the openings and frames near the elevators, as well as the exterior tarpaulins that violated fire safety standards, made it easier for the flames to enter the apartments through the corridors.
Since Wednesday night, thousands of citizens, neighborhood groups, unions, churches and volunteers have mobilized spontaneously, raising millions of Hong Kong dollars and distributing water, food, clothing and temporary shelter.
The Government announced an initial fund of 300 million Hong Kong dollars (33.4 million euros) to help victims and affected people, which has now reached 800 million Hong Kong dollars (88.6 million euros).
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